[Biopsy of the right ventricle endomyocardium. Experience at the Santa Marta Hospital].
OBJECTIVE
To review the experience of Santa Marta Hospital in the right ventricle endomyocardial biopsy technique.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of the results, diagnostic value and complications of the myocardial biopsies performed between April/87 and March/90.


METHODS
255 biopsies were performed; 221 on 13 patients submitted to orthotopic heart transplantation (nine male and four female, aged between 21 and 55 years old), and the remaining on 34 patients (22 male and 12 female aged between 15 and 64 years old), mainly on cardiomyopathies.


RESULTS
In 221 biopsies performed in heart transplant recipients, we found: 109 with no rejection, 21 with moderate rejection, 57 with mild rejection and only one case showed severe rejection. In this group six biopsies were considered inconclusive. In the group of patients not submitted to heart transplantation the histological findings were inespecific in the great majority of the cases. In the 255 procedures four complications were detected (1.56%), with no mortality; two hemopericardium with tamponade (0.78%), one pneumothorax and one atrial fibrillation.


CONCLUSIONS
Endomyocardial biopsy essential for histological diagnosis of acute rejection following heart transplantation has revealed to be a save procedure with a small number of complications.
Ferreira
L
L
Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Marta.
Soares
R M
RM
de Oliveira
M
M
Figueiredo
L
L
da Cruz
G
G
Pinto
E
E
Silva
S
S
Rato
J A
JA
Bento
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D011174:Portugal
Biópsia do endomiocárdio do ventrículo direito. Experiência do Hospital de Santa Marta.